The Significance of Nonverbal Communication: Understanding the 6 'Ics'

1. Preview Importance of NVC Functions The 6 ‘Ics’

2. Importance of NVC NVC = anything but the spoken word. 1. We cannot not communicate 2. NVC = 80 – 90% of our communication

3. Omnipresent • Multifunctional - part of all comm. - clarify meaning of verbals, emotional state • Universal Language System - smile, cry, point - basic understanding • Misunderstanding - make sense of world, or cause problems

4. Phylogenetic Primacy ~ NVC predates language ex. Cavemen ~ cave drawings, grunts. . . • Ontogenetic Primacy ~ interaction with your caretaker and the environment (babies) ex. How does a baby signal they need food, or to get out of a poopy diaper? 9. Interaction Primacy ~ 1st form of communication ~ before we speak, we give visual cues. . . Ex. physical appearance, eye contact, smells, colors you wear. . .

5. 10. Express what verbal communication can’t or shouldn’t ex. Getting your groove on at a dance. . . Look longingly at a hottie, they look at you weird = you don’t have to go over and embarrass yourself 11. NVC is trusted Why?

6. 1. We cannot not communicate • NVC = 80 – 90% of our communication • Omnipresent • Multifunctional - part of all comm. - clarify meaning of verbals, emotional state • Universal Language System - smile, cry, point - basic understanding • Misunderstanding - make sense of world, or cause problems • Phylogenetic Primacy ~ NVC predates language • Ontogenetic Primacy ~ interaction with your caretaker and the environment (babies) 9. Interaction Primacy ~ 1st form of communication ~ before we speak, we give visual cues. . . 10. Express what verbal communication can’t or shouldn’t 11. NVC is trusted

7. Functions of NVC • Send Uncomfortable Messages • Form Impressions which Guide Comm. • Make Relationships Clear

8. Regulate Interaction • Influence People 6) Reinforce & Modify VC

9. The 6 'Ics' The ‘ics’ help to categorize the 6 different types of Nonverbal Communication

10. OCULESICS: Gaze & Eye Contact • Gaze: looking at a person • Eye-contact: mutual gaze, where the two look at each other at the same time • Maintaining eye contact signals genuineness and adds credibility • Avoiding it signals shiftiness, nervousness, and not being prepared

11. OCULESICS: • Culturally different • Very Direct eye contact: Middle Easterners, Some Latin Americans, French • Moderate eye contact: Americans, Northern European, British • Minimal eye contact: East Asians, Southeast Asians, East Indians, Native Americans

12. Haptics The use of touch as communication ex. A hug, kiss, clutching hands, a slap, shove

13. HAPTICS: Contact vs Non Contact Use of physical contact when communicating Contact: • Arabs: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Republic • Latin Americans: Bolivia, Cuba, Equator, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Venezuela; • Southern Europeans: French, Italian, Turkish Non Contact: • Asian: China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Thailand; Indians and Pakistanis • Northern Europeans: Australia, England, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Scotland; • Americans

14. Chronemics How humans perceive, structure, and use time as communication Ex. Standing at the door when there are 5 minutes left in class.

15. Vocalics (paralanguage) Vocal auditory behavior ∆ Not the actual words ex. Rate, pitch, volume, enunciation. . .

16. Volume ~ loudness of voice • Pitch ~ placement of voice on a scale (high low) • Rate ~ speed • Pauses ~ brief silence or spacing of words/sound • Articulation ~ precision and clarity • Enunciation ~ precision and distinctness in sounding words • Rhythm ~ sense of mvmt or pacing

17. Kinesics Body Movement Excludes physical contact with another's body

18. KINESICS • Watching people's actions can bring you a lot closer to the truth than merely listening to what they say (which might be a cover-up) • “Science" of kinesthetics, or "body language" • Can be very revealing • Outward expressions of inner feelings

19. KINESICS • Openness: Open hands, unbuttoned coat. • Defensiveness: Arms crossed, sideways glance, touching-rubbing nose, rubbing eyes, buttoned coat, drawing away. • Insecurity: Pinching flesh, chewing pen, thumb over thumb, biting fingernail. • Cooperation: Upper body in sprinter's position, open hands, sitting on edge of chair, hand to face gestures, unbuttoning coat.

20. GESTURES – O.K. Gesture • Americans, forming a circle with thumb and forefinger to signal O.K. • Culturally means: • "zero" or worthless in France • Money in Japan • Calling someone a very bad name in Germany

21. GESTURES – Nodding Yes or No • For Americans, up and down means yes, side to side means no • In Bulgaria, the nods are reversed in meaning.

22. Proxemics How people use space to communicate. A message system used with a minimal level of awareness

23. Orientation • People may present themselves in various ways: • face-to-face • side-to-side • back-to-back • Cooperating people are likely to sit side-by-side • Competitors frequently face one another

24. What is Position Sign of? • Competition

25. What is Position Sign of? • Cooperation

26. What is Position Sign of? • Conversation

27. Proxemics Proxemics is the 6th ‘ic’ that we will look at in a little more depth than the rest of the ‘ics’

28. PROXEMICS: Interpersonal Attitude & Physical Contact Convey Attitude: • Hostile vs Friendly Physical Contact: • Shaking hands, touching, holding, embracing, pushing, or patting • Reflect an element of intimacy or inclusiveness

29. Proxemics • The distance conveys a non-verbal message. • Culturally: • In some cultures it is a sign of attraction, • In others it may reflect status or the intensity of the exchange

30. 2 main categories of Proxemics: • Territoriality 2) Personal Space / Zones

31. Territoriality Claiming the rights to an area Originated from observations in the animal kingdom • Survival • Females gravitate towards males with best territory

32. Humans communicate through proxemics as well • At Home *fences, shrubbery, flowers, *kitchen, “Dad’s chair” • In Public *purse/coat placement *reservations / tickets to a game • Male / Female interactions *toys, bling-bling, cars, cologne, perfume. . .

33. Personal Space • An invisible, portable, adjustable bubble surrounding an individual. • Actively maintained to protect the person from physical or emotional threats • BODY BUFFER ZONE (on the test)

34. Personal Space / Zones The Zones of space which surround us 4 zones that are important in proxemic communication 1)Intimate Space 2) Communal Space 3) Socioconsultative Zone 4) Public Zone

35. Intimate Zone From physical contact to 18 inches 0 - 18 Usually for close relationships Various meanings *Something is wrong *Intensity *Violation of space (personal bubble)

36. Communal Space Distance from 18 inches to 4 feet 18 - 4 Interpersonal communication most common at this distance Usually friends, or acquaintances *an established relationship

37. Socioconsultative Zone Spans a distance from 4 feet to 10 feet 4 - 10 Utilized in professional settings *Teacher / Student *Lawyer / Client / Jury

38. Public Zone Begins at 10 feet and extents to where one can still be seen and heard 10 - ? This type of communication tends to be formal *Public speaking *Rallies *Malls

39. Homework! • 10 Entry Observation Diary -Between now and the due date, observe 10 instances of human interaction or nonverbal communication. -Make note of environment, physical appearance, personal behavior, and interaction with others. WRITE THESE THINGS DOWN. - The completed diary is due IN CLASS on Wednesday, January 15th.